September 8, 1943 is the date of the bombing raid of USAAF in Frascati because there were the German General Headquarters for the Mediterranean zone - O.B.S. and the Italian headquarters, scattered in buildings and Villas nearby the town.

130 USAAF aircrafts (B17G and B24 bombers under convoy of "P38 Lightning" fighters) carried out a selective-bombing from hight altitude because the aircrafts were equipped with the modern laying control sistem "Norden". The aircrafts headed for Monte Cavo (Alban Hills), after having bombed the railway station of Velletri, arrived on Frascati at 10 minute past 12 a.m., they were looking for Marshall Albert Kesselring and his staff. The Alban Hills (It. ... Velletri (ancient Velitrae) is a commune in the province of Rome, in Lazio (Latium) It is bounded by other communes of Rocca di Papa Lariano, Cisterna di Latina, Artena, Aprilia, Nemi, Genzano di Roma, Lanuvio. ... Albert Kesselring Albert Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a German Generalfeldmarschall who commanded Army Group C during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful German generals, he was nicknamed Smiling Albert or smiling Kesselring. Kesselring was born in Marktsteft, Germany, in 1881. ...

The anti-aircraft defence was equipped with heavy anti-aircraft guns of 88/56 mm and machineguns of 37/20 mm, they were placed on Tuscolo ridge and terraces in the town reinforced with cement pillars to stand the recoils.
About of 50% of buildings, many of the monuments and villas were deleted, St. Pietro square was destroyed but the Cathedral facade was undamaged.

The italian Regia Aeronautica engaged about thirty aircraft fighters, some of anachronistic biplane Fiat CR42, some of Macchi C200, some of Fiat G50, two Fiat G55 and one Macchi C202. This was the last mission of Regia Aeronautica because after the armistice with the allied, this armed force was divided into two parts. The Luftwaffe engaged some of Messerschmitt Bf 109. The aircrafts of the USAAF shootted down: one B17 and one P38. The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in...

After few days, Kesselring and the militar headquarters moved to Monte Soratte. Marshal Kesselring relate in his memoris that the day of 8th september, as the day of italian treason, while the true treason was Enigma machine: the Whehrmacht Enigma machine as a matter of fact, in each action of italian military forces known to Kesselring staff, the informations were passed to the allied forces by the Enigma code machine communications, listened and deciphered by Bletchley Park base. A three-rotor German military Enigma machine showing, from bottom to top, the plugboard, the keyboard, the lamps and the finger-wheels of the rotors emerging from the inner lid (version with labels). ... During World War II, British and American cryptographers at Bletchley Park broke a large number of Axis codes and ciphers, including the German Enigma machine. ...

In Frascati, the official announcement of the armistice with allied forces, was given at 7.45 p.m. Therefore, those who had rushed from nearby towns to the help of the survivors fled to escape capture by German troops, so giving up any work to remove the debris and to recover bodies.

Later on, the town ran the risk of being completely swept away, having declared it "infect area". The German troops, for fear of epidemics, were going to set it to fire by flame-throwers.

But the citizens, the clergy and his Bishop Budelacci, undertook to pull the bodies out of the ruins, thus, the town was safe. In Frascati bombing raid the civil victims have been 485 people.